Govt focuses on 2020 while rural internet stagnates in 2015

Posted by Clare Curran on September 09, 2015

While National debates the rules for post 2020 telecommunication, it is dragging its heels on fixing the quality of internet connections right now in rural communities says Labour’s ICT spokesperson Clare Curran.

“Last week the Minister quietly revealed that the second phase of the Rural Broadband scheme has been put off until after the ultrafast broadband second stage has been determined.

“That leaves most of rural New Zealand struggling with low speed broadband for the foreseeable future. Yet again the regions are being neglected by National.

“The review of the rules that govern our communication networks picks up on a number of matters Labour has been raising for several years, including how New Zealand will deal with the migration from the copper network to fibre.

“That’s good news but planning for the future shouldn’t come at the expense of the present.

“Amy Adams knows that the state of rural broadband is dire. It’s time to take action,” says Clare Curran.